Should I be worried?

[SuperHO]

My wife has a 94 ATX with 134,*** miles on what I can assume is the original tranny. The fluid in it is VERY clean and pretty smelling, but the problem I seem to be having is the 1-2 shift. It's sloppy as ****. At WOT, there's about a half second interval between 1st releasing and 2nd engaging, which really sucks when you're trying to emberass some kid in a riced out non-turbo 3000GT with crappy exhaust and even crappier rims.

Now, this may be normal for a 2nd gen ATX. I'm not at all familiar with them, as I've never driven one. All I've driven is MTX and 3rd gens, so I may just be paranoid (or excited over the possibility of a new 3.2 block to rebuild and do nasty things to ).

Please, for the love of all things Holy....put my fears to rest.

Thanx

 

[Slo-Sho]

Rebuild time. My $ is on the forward clutch piston and your clutch packs will soon disentegrate into sediment at the bottom of the trans pan.

 

[SuperHO]

:cry: so I take it that doing a good fluid and filter change, upgrading the cooler and adding a shift kit or something won't help it worth a damn?

 

[Slo-Sho]

If the internal parts are physically worn/damaged or otherwise...all the fluid changes and additives you could throw at it isn't going to help. If possible, try to find a 'Ma and Pa' transmission service shop who has serviced the AOD-E/AX4S/AX4N units before. I'd stay away from a chain store.

 

[SHOtimer]

:cry: so I take it that doing a good fluid and filter change, upgrading the cooler and adding a shift kit or something won't help it worth a damn?

The shift kit will help and make it better if installed properly. But, to install it you must rebuild the tranny. Either way your lookin at a rebuild.

Doug

 

[TYSHO]

Sometimes, changing the filter and fluid that comes out the pan, it will make the problem go away. It wouldn't hurt to change the filter/fluid and see besides going straight to a rebuild. I had around 150k on the original 93 atx and it was still going good. No problems but the wreck.

 

[SuperHO]

so basically I've got a few options here.....

1: Wait till it dies and harvest the 3.2 from it and have my merry little way with it.

2: Wait until it's just about to die and trade it in on the Mazda 6 that's currently making my wife wet.

3: Just dump the money and fix the damn thing.

4: Hope like **** to get in an accident and blame the collision as to why my car's not working right and see if the insurance'll cover it.








...crap....

 

[SHOtimer]

so basically I've got a few options here.....

1: Wait till it dies and harvest the 3.2 from it and have my merry little way with it.

2: Wait until it's just about to die and trade it in on the Mazda 6 that's currently making my wife wet.

3: Just dump the money and fix the damn thing.

4: Hope like **** to get in an accident and blame the collision as to why my car's not working right and see if the insurance'll cover it.

1. Good option.

2. You won't get much for it if the tranny is goin.

3. Depends on the condition of the rest of the car and how attached you are to it. (If you go this route, a Jasper trans or FPS tranny are the two best options)

4. That argument won't get you anywhere, and might make it worse.

Doug

 

[SuperHO]

1. Good option.

2. You won't get much for it if the tranny is goin.

3. Depends on the condition of the rest of the car and how attached you are to it. (If you go this route, a Jasper trans or FPS tranny are the two best options)

4. That argument won't get you anywhere, and might make it worse.

Doug

Problems.....

1: the wife would disown me, since it's her car

2: My credit sucks anyway

3: I deliver pizzas and the VA screws every Vet it can. :cuss:

4: Eh, no full coverage anywho.

I wonder how much Doug Lewis would charge me to rebuild it....?

 

[SHOtimer]

Those are considered the *best* you can get. I think installed they are around $2500, IIRC.

Doug

 

[SuperHO]

Oh...is that all?

 

[oxrox]

I would relax a little - I went through the same issues on my 95 ATX - the 1-2 shift is terrible (the other shifts are no picnic either). I changed the fluid, filter - there were no shavings or any other bad signs. The 1-2 shift will bounce and bang around in low-mid rpms, it just can't decide when to shift, and when it does it is too late, so you get a jolt. Give it some gas, under a quick accelleration the shift should be firm and smooth and at about 3500 rpms (it does lag a little for a half second or so).

I have been living with this since I bought the car many years ago....and plan on many more, I just drive the car more like it is meant to be driven - hard (at least out of 1st gear). There are also some Tranny additives which will help to smooth the shifts.

I think it is a Ford problem...my 89 SLO had the problem and my wifes 02 Windstar also has an ugly 1-2 shift.

Ryan
95 ATX 85k

 

[oh_SHO]

Just drive the car. I posted the behavior of my family's 93 ATX a couple years and 40K miles ago... Anyway, everybody on here told me it was dying and I would have to rebuild it soon. Well, it still shifts and just passed 152K on the original trans.

 

[SuperHO]

It probably doesn't help that she winds out 3rd gear until about 3900 to 4200rpms every time she accelerates. I keep telling her that's why she gets such crappy fuel economy, cuz when I drive it to deliver pizzas (when my other two are down....or I just feel like driving the damn thing), I get quite good economy. When I drive normal, my 1-2 shift point is between 3100 and 3500. ::shrugz:: women drivers............